Northampton County puts plan to end program for elderly on hold

County can't find agency to take over coordinating services so clients can stay in their homes.

August 17, 2012|By Samantha Marcus, Of The Morning Call

Northampton County is temporarily backing off plans to shelve a program that serves 160 of the county's frailest elderly.

Last month, county officials said they were ending the "aging waiver" program along with two others that coordinate services for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. The closures were prompted by a change in a state funding mechanism that translates into higher costs for counties to keep such programs going.

Northampton County chose to end the programs rather than make up the difference.

Aging waiver participants are considered clinically eligible for nursing homes, but receive services to remain in their homes.

County caseworkers coordinated services for them, making arrangements for clients to receive help, assisting with paperwork and transportation, and offering follow-up and support services.

Clients receive actual treatment, care or services through other county programs or nonprofit agencies. Funding for those programs is not being affected by the county's decision, though the state did cut human services funding by nearly 10 percent in the 2012-13 budget.

Human Services Director Ross Marcus said the county could not find another agency or program to take over the coordination services. The program will continue beyond the planned Aug. 31 closing date, but he's unsure when the county will run out of money to operate it.

"We will not walk away from the consumers," Marcus said, "so we will try to do the best we can to hang in there and provide the essential services that we currently provide."

Lehigh County Human Services Director Jan Creedon said Friday that Lehigh also is considering opting out of the program.

The changes come as the state adopted a fee-for-service system for the aging waiver. Previously, the county had been paid a flat per-client rate. The county will now receive $14.53 per quarter-hour. Marcus said the fee for services rate doesn't cover the county's expenses. State regulations also prohibit counties from back-filling shortfalls with state dollars.

Northampton County has been subsidizing the aging waiver program at $50,000 a year. With those changes in state funding, its contribution is estimated to jump to $220,000.

The state's efforts to cut costs, Marcus said, will likely cost taxpayers more in the long run. Without the coordination services, such clients may wind up in a nursing home at a higher cost to the state.

The state either needs to increase the reimbursement rate to a more suitable level or give the county an alternative agency to provide the services, Marcus said. He added it's foreseeable that counties would opt out and the state should have been better prepared.

"It just seems to me when you take draconian action, that you have plans for the fallout," he said.

It's unlikely County Council will volunteer to fund the program long-term.

"The county has been willing to keep these programs going during dry spells, but those dry spells are turning into a desert, Councilman Tom Dietrich said.

Given a huge one-time expense to buy out of a swaption and the cost of continued subsidies to Gracedale nursing home, council President John Cusick added, "I just don't see a commitment at this time to inject additional county funds into these programs."